A multi-value logic device in which a unique bus level is allocated beforehand to each binary logic signal outputted by a function of the multi-value logic device. Upon receipt of the binary logic signal via a bus level selection circuit, a driver converts the binary logic signal to an analog signal with a voltage having an amplitude of e.multidot.2.sup.n-1, in which n is the bus level of the binary logic signal and e is a reference voltage. When a plurality of binary logic signals are simultaneously inputted, the driver superimposes analog signals in accordance with the bus level of each binary logic signal to generate a multi-value logic signal, so that multiplex communication is realized. A receiver performs an operation reverse to the operation of the driver, and encodes a multi-value logic signal received via a bus to convert the signal to a binary logic signal and transmit the signal to each function. In this manner, the multi-value logic device suppresses an increase in the number of bus signal conductors, and enhances throughput by realizing multiplex communication.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A multi-value logic device comprising: at least one function for outputting a binary logic signal via a binary logic signal output line; and transmission control means having a data input signal conductor corresponding to each binary logic signal output line and, when a bus level uniquely allocated to said data input signal conductor to which the binary logic signal from said function is inputted is n (n being a natural number), and a reference voltage at the time of signal output is e, converting the binary logic signal to an analog signal with a voltage of e.multidot.2.sup.n-1 and transmitting the signal, said transmission control means superimposing analog signals, when a plurality of binary logic signals are simultaneously inputted, and transmitting data as a multi-value logic signal.
2. The multi-value logic device according to claim 1, further comprising an output signal selection circuit for dynamically establishing a correspondence between the binary logic signal output line of said function and the data input signal conductor of said transmission control means.
3. The multi-value logic device according to claim 1 wherein said at least one function has a plurality of said binary logic signal output lines.
4. The multi-value logic device according to claim 1 wherein said transmission control means includes constant-current sources for supplying different currents corresponding to said data input signal conductors.
5. A multi-value logic device comprising: at least one function for receiving a binary logic signal via a binary logic signal input line; and reception control means having a data output signal conductor corresponding to each binary logic signal input line, having a unique bus level n (n being a natural number) allocated to each data output signal conductor, and converting a received analog multi-value logic signal to at least one binary logic signal and transmitting the converted binary logic signal to said function via said data output signal conductor, said reception control means, when a reference voltage upon receiving the multi-value logic signal is e, decoding a superimposed voltage of e.multidot.2.sup.n-1 constituting the received analog multi-value logic signal to distinguish a bus level for generation of the voltage, and transmitting the binary logic signal via said data output signal conductor corresponding to each bus level.
6. The multi-value logic device according to claim 5, further comprising an input signal selection circuit for dynamically establishing a correspondence between the binary logic signal input line of said function and the data output signal conductor of said reception control means.
7. The multi-value logic device according to claim 5 wherein said at least one function has a plurality of said binary logic signal input lines.
8. A multi-value logic device comprising: at least one function having at least one binary logic signal conductor including a binary logic signal output line for outputting a binary logic signal and a binary logic signal input line for receiving a binary logic signal and having a unique bus level allocated to each binary logic signal conductor; transmission control means having a data input signal conductor corresponding to each binary logic signal output line and, when the bus level of said binary logic signal output line via which the binary logic signal is outputted is n (n being a natural number) and a reference voltage upon signal output is e.sub.1, converting the binary logic signal to an analog signal with a voltage of e.sub.1.multidot.2.sup.n-1 and transmitting the signal; and reception control means having a data output signal conductor corresponding to each binary logic signal input line, and converting a received analog multi-value logic signal to at least one binary logic signal and transmitting the converted binary logic signal to said function via the data output signal conductor, said transmission control means superimposing analog signals, when a plurality of binary logic signals are simultaneously inputted, and transmitting data as the multi-value logic signal, and said reception control means, when a reference voltage upon receiving the multi-value logic signal is e.sub.2, decoding a superimposed voltage of e.sub.2.multidot.2.sup.n-1 constituting the received analog multi-value logic signal to distinguish a bus level for generation of the voltage, and transmitting the binary logic signal to the binary logic signal input line of said function corresponding to each bus level.
9. The multi-value logic device according to claim 8 further comprising an input/output signal selection circuit for dynamically establishing a correspondence between the binary logic signal output line of said function and the data input signal conductor of said transmission control means and between the binary logic signal input line of said function and the data output signal conductor of said reception control means.
10. A bus system comprising: a plurality of multi-value logic devices; and a shared bus connecting said multi-value logic devices, each of said multi-value logic devices comprising: at least one function having at least one binary logic signal conductor including a binary logic signal output line for outputting a binary logic signal and a binary logic signal input line for receiving a binary logic signal and having a unique bus level allocated to each binary logic signal conductor; transmission control means having a data input signal conductor corresponding to each binary logic signal output line and, when the bus level of said binary logic signal output line via which the binary logic signal is outputted is n (n being a natural number) and a reference voltage upon signal output is e.sub.1, converting the binary logic signal to an analog signal with a voltage of e.sub.1.multidot.2.sup.n-1 and transmitting the signal; and reception control means having a data output signal conductor corresponding to each binary logic signal input line, and converting a received analog multi-value logic signal to at least one binary logic signal and transmitting the converted binary logic signal to said function via the data output signal conductor, said transmission control means superimposing analog signals, when a plurality of binary logic signals are simultaneously inputted, and transmitting data as the multi-value logic signal, said reception control means, when a reference voltage upon receiving the multi-value logic signal is e.sub.2, decoding a superimposed voltage of e.sub.2.multidot.2.sup.n-1 constituting the received analog multi-value logic signal to distinguish a bus level for generation of the voltage, and transmitting the binary logic signal to the binary logic signal input line of said function corresponding to each bus level, and a bus level which does not overlap a bus level of said binary logic signal conductor for use in another data communication being allocated to each binary logic signal conductor of said multi-value logic devices for use in data communication, so that multiplex communication between the multi-value logic devices is realized.
11. The bus system according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said multi-value logic devices has a plurality of said functions, and simultaneous/parallel data communication can be performed between each function and functions of the other multi-value logic devices.
12. The bus system according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said multi-value logic devices performing data communication has a plurality of said functions, and simultaneous/parallel data communication can be performed between the plurality of functions.
13. The bus system according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said multi-value logic devices performing data communication has functions, each of which has a plurality of said binary logic signal conductors, and data communication can be performed between the functions simultaneously using the plurality of binary logic signal conductors.
14. A network system comprising: a plurality of information processors, each information processor being provided with a multi-value logic device; and a shared network connecting said information processors, each of said multi-value logic devices of said information processors comprising: at least one function having at least one binary logic signal conductor including a binary logic signal output line for outputting a binary logic signal and a binary logic signal input line for receiving a binary logic signal and having a unique bus level allocated to each binary logic signal conductor; transmission control means having a data input signal conductor corresponding to each binary logic signal output line and, when the bus level of said binary logic signal output line via which the binary logic signal is outputted is n (n being a natural number) and a reference voltage upon signal output is e.sub.1, converting the binary logic signal to an analog signal with a voltage of e.sub.1.multidot.2.sup.n-1 and transmitting the signal; and reception control means having a data output signal conductor corresponding to each binary logic signal input line, and converting a received analog multi-value logic signal to at least one binary logic signal and transmitting the converted binary logic signal to said function via the data output signal conductor, said transmission control means superimposing analog signals, when a plurality of binary logic signals are simultaneously inputted, and transmitting data as the multi-value logic signal, said reception control means, when a reference voltage upon receiving the multi-value logic signal is e.sub.2, decoding a superimposed voltage of e.sub.2.multidot.2.sup.n-1 constituting the received analog multi-value logic signal to distinguish a bus level for generation of the voltage, and transmitting the binary logic signal to the binary logic signal input line of said function corresponding to each bus level, and a bus level which does not overlap a bus level of said binary logic signal conductor for use in another data communication being allocated to each binary logic signal conductor of said multi-value logic devices for use in data communication, so that multiplex communication between the multi-value logic devices is realized.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
March 29, 1999
July 24, 2001
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